Back up your hard drive with Complete PC Backup imaging utility

Accessing Complete PC Backup

All previous Windows operating systems come with a backup utility to allow you to back up all the files on your hard disk. So too does Windows Vista. However, in addition to its standard backup utility, Windows Vista also comes with a hard disk imaging utility, called Complete PC Backup. This utility can create an image file that contains the complete contents and structure of a hard disk. If you've ever used Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, then you have a good idea of what Windows Vista's Complete PC Backup imaging utility is all about.

CaveatsKeep in mind that that the type of backup that Complete PC Backup creates can not be used to restore single files--it can only restore the entire hard disk. For that reason, Microsoft recommends that even though you use Complete PC Backup, you still use the standard backup utility on a regular basis. Another thing to keep in mind is that Complete PC Backup and Restore is not included with Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium.

Accessing Complete PC BackupThere are two ways you can access the Complete PC Backup operation. You can access it from the Backup and Restore Center by clicking Start | All Programs | Maintenance. You can also access it from the Backup Status and Configuration page by clicking Start | All Programs | Accessories | System tools.

Backup Status and Configuration page

From either interface, launching the Complete PC Backup utility first brings up a User Account Control dialog box. You'll need to click Continue to actually start the Complete PC Backup utility.

Creating the backup image

Once Complete PC Backup launches, you'll see its opening screen, which first scans your system for available backup devices and then prompts you to select one. As you can see here, I'm going to back up to a DVD RW drive for this example, but I could have chosen a secondary internal or external hard disk.

Once the Complete PC Backup utility performs it initial preparation, you&apos;ll be prompted to insert a disk into the drive.

When you click Next, you'll see a confirmation page that provides an estimate of the number of disks the image will require. Once you click Start backup button, the Complete PC Backup utility will be begin its preparation operation.

You'll then be prompted to insert a DVD disk into the DVD RW drive. Notice the progress bar in the background indicates the beginning of the preparation operation.

The actual format operation takes less than a minute to complete.

The Complete PC Backup utility will then prompt you to format the disk. You'll then see the Format operation commence.

Once the DVD has been formatted, Complete PC Backup utility will begin imaging the disk. As the operation continues and the first disk is filled, you're prompted to insert and format subsequent disks. In my case it took three3 DVDs to backup my 26GB installation. The first two DVDs were filled at 4.37GB while the third required only 568MB, which comes out to about 9GB--not a bad compression ratio.

Restoring an image backup

To restore a hard disk using the image, you'll need to boot from the Windows Vista DVD. You'll then see two Install Windows screens and will select your language in the first and then select the Repair your computer option in the second. When you get to the Windows Recovery Environment screen, you'll select the Complete PC Restore option and follow the prompts to restore your system.

ConclusionIn addition to its standard file backup utility, Windows Vista's Complete PC Backup imaging utility is designed to allow you to create an image of an entire hard disk. If you have comments or information to share about Windows Vista's Complete PC Backup, please take a moment to drop by the Discussion area and let us hear.

Restoring an image backup

To restore a hard disk using the image, you'll need to boot from the Windows Vista DVD. You'll then see two Install Windows screens and will select your language in the first and then select the Repair your computer option in the second. When you get to the Windows Recovery Environment screen, you'll select the Complete PC Restore option and follow the prompts to restore your system.

ConclusionIn addition to its standard file backup utility, Windows Vista's Complete PC Backup imaging utility is designed to allow you to create an image of an entire hard disk. If you have comments or information to share about Windows Vista's Complete PC Backup, please take a moment to drop by the Discussion area and let us hear.

About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...

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Bill Detwiler has nothing to disclose. He doesn't hold investments in the technology companies he covers.

Full Bio

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.